London Tube strike 2014: How to get to work in one piece during the Tube strike

Members of the RMT and TSSA unions are holding two 48-hour strikes over plans to close all of the ticket offices on the London Underground.

The first strike is set to begin at 9pm on Tuesday and the second at the same time next week, but in both cases disruption is expected to spill-over into the Friday as well.

Here are some practical tips to keep moving and avoid the worst of the inevitable delays to your normal journey.

Persevere with the Tube

Click on the map for a larger version (Picture: TfL/ @ianvisits)

Almost all lines will be operating in some capacity, albeit with a greatly reduced service and with many stations closed outright. This mapcould help give you an indication of whether sticking with the Tube during the strike is an option, although stations are likely to be extremely busy, with long delays likely. In addition, reduced services will only run between 7am and 11pm. Click here to see what lines Transport for London intends to run.

See the sights

This is your big chance, buses (Picture: PA)

More than 100 extra buses are being laid on by TfL on the capital’s busiest routes, while volunteers are being posted to bus stations to help commuters who normally do all their travelling underground. Regardless, buses are likely to be extremely busy.

Take to the river

They look like they’re enjoying themselves somewhat (Picture: Getty)

The last major Tube strike was marked by pictures of long queues of workers waiting to catch a boat from London Bridge to Canary Wharf, and this time around could be no different. TfL expects to run enhanced river services, around every 15 minutes. A morning river cruise could be a pleasant alternative to a packed Tube, although conditions could be a bit choppy (see below).

Get some exercise

In reality there won’t nearly be as many bikes available to hire (Picture: EPA)

Walking maps are already available online but will also be handed out by TfL ambassadors at stations in zone one, and other large outer London stations. Boris Bikes are likely to be in huge demand during the strike, while any commuters with their own bike are naturally being encouraged to cycle, with employers asked to be flexible and allow workers to wear casual clothes. Unfortunately, the weather isn’t exactly going to play ball, with rain and strong gusts forecast for the whole of Wednesday. Thursday may be a more pleasant day to get the bike out.

Just stay at home

You could avoid all this and get an extra hour in bed (Picture: Getty)

National sickie day has been and gone, but home-working could be a realistic option for millions of Londoners, with conference call provider Powwownow predicting record numbers of remote workers during the strike.

Use one of those outdoor trains

The DLR is controlled by robots, which is a bonus (Picture: Supplied)

Fortunately the Tube strike will not affect either London Overground or the DLR, although both are expected to be exceptionally busy due to the knock-on effect of the strike.

The nuclear option

Keeping London moving, one cable car at a time (Picture: File)

We can’t stress this enough, but the Emirates Air Line will be operating a normal service during the strikes. So anyone commuting to the O2 from Royal Victoria can relax.